COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Members of the community gathered Wednesday, April 1, to welcome the reopening of Jackpot Food Mart, a longtime corner store aiming to reestablish itself as a local staple.
The Colusa Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribbon cutting, with Executive Director Jack Cunningham introducing owners Steve and Ginny Barrett as they officially opened the refreshed Market Street business.
“This has been quite an experience,” said co-owner Steve Barrett. “Coming to a new town, you never know what you’re going to get. This has probably been about as welcoming as anywhere, we’ve been.”
The Barretts, who have operated a similar store in Corning for years, said their goal is to restore the store’s role in the community.
“Our number one goal was we wanted to bring the store back to the community the way it was, the way you all remember it,” Steve said.
The event drew steady foot traffic throughout the afternoon, with guests invited to take part in a “Jackpot Bingo” game that encouraged them to explore the store. Completed cards were entered into a drawing for a 32-inch television.
Inside, customers found a noticeably refreshed space. The owners said much of their early effort focused on cleaning, reorganizing and restocking the store with fresh inventory.
“For the first five days, 14, 16-hour days, we cleaned,” one owner said, describing the initial turnaround effort.
Among the changes is the introduction of Cooper’s Chicken, a hot food service the owners said has been successful at their other location. Customer feedback has already influenced offerings, including the return of bone-in chicken and gizzards.
“We do what our customers want,” Ginny said.
While the store is currently operating without beer sales, the owners confirmed they are in the process of transferring their alcohol license.
“That takes time,” Steve said. “In the meantime, come check out what we have.”
Despite that limitation, they said early sales and community response have been encouraging, with residents returning to a store that has long served as a reliable stop in Colusa.
“It’s always been a staple,” one attendee said, noting the store’s importance, especially during evening hours when other options are limited.
Looking ahead, the owners are considering additional improvements, including restoring the building’s original look and potentially adding a mural reflecting Colusa landmarks.
For now, they said the focus remains on consistency, quality and rebuilding trust with customers.
“We just want to bring Jackpot back to what our community remember,” Steve said. “Serve and convenance.”